PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hannibal Butrovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Project Ghetto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ghetto has chosen Beanie Sigel - In The Ghetto as his entrance music. Hannibal Butrovic has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Butrovic
vs
Ghetto

180 cm
29
168 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

168 cm
30
155 lbs
19 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Hannibal Butrovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Project Ghetto!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ghetto shoots for a takedown but Butrovic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ghetto lands a really nice looking cross but Butrovic seems unphased.

Butrovic shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ghetto's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Butrovic works over Ghetto with some ground and pound from guard.
Ghetto is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Butrovic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ghetto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Butrovic distracts Ghetto with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Butrovic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Butrovic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Ghetto working for a triangle but Butrovic defends it easily.

Ghetto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Butrovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Ghetto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ghetto wants to stand but Butrovic is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butrovic wants to control from the top but Ghetto keeps moving.
Butrovic postures up.
Butrovic throws a big right hand that misses.
Ghetto keeping moving, preventing Butrovic from controlling successfully.
Ghetto looking for a sweep. Not yet Ghetto, not yet.
Butrovic keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ghetto's head.
Ghetto working a defensive guard here.
Ghetto keeping moving, preventing Butrovic from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ghetto.
Ghetto slaps away a takedown attempt from Butrovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Ghetto sprawls well. He's pushed Butrovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Butrovic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ghetto avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannibal Butrovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ghetto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Butrovic tries to avoid it but Ghetto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Butrovic to the ground. Butrovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Butrovic lands a nice shot to the body.
Ghetto goes for a double leg but Butrovic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Butrovic continues to drive forward.
Ghetto has Butrovic pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Butrovic manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Ghetto has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Butrovic is trying to keep an underhook but Ghetto manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic wants to get back to full guard.

Butrovic looking for submissions off his back.
Butrovic is looking for a sweep. Ghetto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ghetto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Butrovic keeps working.
Butrovic wants to get back to full guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Butrovic looking for submissions off his back.
Butrovic trying to control here.

Ghetto looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Butrovic misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ghetto connects with a nice short shot to Butrovic's temple.
Ghetto is trying to control the action in half guard but Butrovic is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Butrovic is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ghetto scores with a couple of nice shots.
Butrovic makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Butrovic.
Ghetto makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Butrovic working for a triangle but Ghetto defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ghetto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Butrovic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ghetto trying to control the position from guard on top but Butrovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hannibal Butrovic will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ghetto displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Butrovic.
Butrovic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ghetto defends it nicely.
Ghetto shoots in looking for a takedown. Butrovic tries to sprawl out of it but Ghetto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Butrovic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ghetto throws a sloppy head kick and Butrovic moves out of range easily.
Ghetto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Butrovic was well out of range. Poor timing from Ghetto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghetto takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nice takedown defense from Butrovic. No joy for Ghetto on that attempt.
Ghetto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hannibal Butrovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Project Ghetto.

Butrovic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Butrovic there.
Ghetto tries to get to full guard but Butrovic has control of the leg.
Butrovic takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Butrovic looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ghetto taking some punishment here, with Butrovic in his half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ghetto wants to control but Butrovic is keeping busy.
Ghetto is refusing to be controlled, as Butrovic sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic slips a nice elbow through Ghetto's hands, connecting with Ghetto's forehead.
Ghetto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Butrovic is working away from the top position though.
Butrovic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ghetto is not content to let Butrovic control the position.

Ghetto actively working from the bottom here.
Butrovic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ghetto manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ghetto keeping moving, preventing Butrovic from controlling successfully.

Ghetto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Butrovic wants to control from the top but Ghetto keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghetto working a defensive guard but Butrovic manages to pass into side control anyway.
Butrovic trying to control the action but Ghetto is working from the bottom.
Ghetto tries to bench press Butrovic off him but Butrovic keeps the position.
The ground and pound from Butrovic seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Ghetto is looking to regain half guard here but Butrovic keeps moving and retains side control.
Ghetto regains half guard there - taking advantage of Butrovic's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Butrovic is looking to take a break and control but Ghetto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ghetto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ghetto trying to control but Butrovic postures up.

Butrovic is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ghetto has managed to free his arm - good work.

Butrovic is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Butrovic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ghetto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Butrovic pulls his head out easily.
Butrovic works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannibal Butrovic dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Butrovic fails with the takedown
and Ghetto counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Ghetto closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Butrovic quickly recovers to half guard.
Ghetto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Butrovic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Butrovic looking for submissions off his back.
Butrovic moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ghetto content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ghetto connects with a couple of short punches.
Ghetto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Butrovic keeping moving, preventing Ghetto from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Butrovic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ghetto defends it easily.
Ghetto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ghetto works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ghetto takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ghetto scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ghetto prevents Butrovic from improving his position.
Butrovic throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Butrovic moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Butrovic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butrovic working a defensive guard but Ghetto passes into half guard.
Butrovic is looking to improve his position.
Ghetto trying to control the action but Butrovic is working from the bottom.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Butrovic tries to get to full guard but Ghetto has control of the leg.
Ghetto throwing shots but Butrovic is blocking nicely.

Ghetto stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Butrovic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghetto shoots in looking for a takedown but Butrovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ghetto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ghetto misses with a takedown attempt - Butrovic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Butrovic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ghetto defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannibal Butrovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ghetto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Project Ghetto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ghetto gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Butrovic moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hannibal Butrovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ghetto trying to control but Butrovic is working from the bottom.
Ghetto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ghetto trying to control but Butrovic is working from the bottom.
Ghetto is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ghetto tries to free his leg and advance position but Butrovic is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Butrovic is looking for a triangle but Ghetto pushes his legs off easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Butrovic throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Ghetto landing some decent shots from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Project Ghetto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Butrovic has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Hannibal Butrovic!
A less than humble Hannibal Butrovic misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.